Homeland star David Harewood today said England had lost a generation of black actors to America because of a lack of strong roles.

The 47-year-old actor, who played CIA operative David Estes for two series of the US drama, said British screenwriters were “taking time” to catch up with their American counterparts.

Harewood who lives in Streatham with wife Kirsty Handy and two daughters said: “With the types of dramas that we do, it’s going to take a while for people to start casting strong black lead roles. It’s why that whole generation of strong black lead actors left the country.”

Harewood’s character was killed in an explosion at the climax of season two of Homeland. The third series began last night on UK television. He is now deciding whether to leave the UK for Los Angeles as he starts shooting new HBO series The Money.